GAMES Not a dull opening game at Lotto Park, but a true spectacle nonetheless. Anderlecht deservedly led 2-0 at halftime, but in the 60th minute, the score was immediately reversed after lax defending. Anderlecht continued to attack, however, and decisively overtook Westerlo with three more goals, including a gem from Angulo and the first for Saliba. A lively Hazard scored twice.
Anderlecht started hesitantly, failing to immediately capitalize on Westerlo's loss of possession. The visitors played freely and hit the post for a corner.
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Continue reading After a weak quarter of an hour, Anderlecht played a good half hour. De Cat won two duels and set up Hazard, who slotted home. Not that chances suddenly abounded, but there was a high burst of play, and the ball was moving around easily. The next real opportunity saw the net vibrate again. Angulo delivered a brilliant pass to Degreef, who also lobbed it beautifully into the net in the 37th minute. Vazquez had two more chances to make it three nil before halftime.
The second half began with a serious setback. Substitute Vroninks missed his shot, creating a lot of space. Simic's defense was too lax, and Vaesen slotted past Coosemans. Anderlecht responded with Augustinsson's shot against the post. Ten minutes later, Vazquez had another good chance, but his shot went over the bar.
Just before the hour mark, Westerlo equalized with a low shot from Frigan into the near corner, which caught Coosemans off guard. The Purple & White thus easily threw away their double lead in fifteen minutes.
But Anderlecht were undeterred. The unpredictable Angulo reacted quickly to win possession and placed it into the top corner with a superb shot. Just after Saliba came on for De Cat, the Canadian promptly headed the ball past Jungdal from a corner in the 69th minute to make it 4-2. Yet, Anderlecht had to stay focused. While searching for a fifth goal, Frigan was launched, but this time Coosemans was unfazed. In stoppage time, Hazard removed all doubts with his second of the afternoon after Vroninks had capitalized on the space.
A fine opener for the Purple & White, but also a match that demonstrated their defensive vulnerability. Highlights include De Cat's strong first half, Augustinsson's strong performance, Hazard's industriousness, and Vroninks's appearance as a substitute. Although he indirectly led to the 2-1 with a missed interception, he recovered and displayed a strong attacking presence. Unfortunately, it was also noticeable that Vazquez should have scored a few times today, but didn't.
Anderlecht thus achieved what it couldn't in the league last season: beat Westerlo. Anderlecht can now head into Sweden with the necessary confidence.
